[Elecraft] Re: K1 on USB CW

[Steve Lawrence]

On Jun 17, 2004, at 10:43 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> I'd be curious about the advantages that you see in a K1 LSB-to-USB
> conversion.
>
> 73,
> Mike / KK5F
>
Mike - I have no interest in listening to SSB with the K1 and have set 
it up for an 80 kc spread. The advantage to USB CW is that it has long 
been the standard for CW - even on 160-80-40 where sideband operation 
is LSB - CW is still USB. I usually start tuning from the bottom end of 
the band going up and it is often useful to hear what's up the band as 
you tune higher. For casual operation, it is not that big a deal but in 
chasing DX it is nice hear the split up frequency. With LSB you would 
hear the last station worked only if he was below your listening 
frequency rather than above, especially if the signal is weak. For 
serious DX chasing, USB CW is the way to go.

That said, the K1 is a very impressive design with clever mechanical 
assembly features and carefully thought out ergonomics. Wayne and Eric 
really know their stuff.

By-the-way: The present day LSB - USB band "standards" have their roots 
from years ago in the availability of 9 Mc crystals / filters - when 
SSB was experimental and you had to build your own. 9 Mc plus a VFO 
running at 5.0 to 5.5 Mc gives you 20m USB. Subtract the VFO frequency 
and you tune "backwards" on 75/80m and you get LSB. There is actually 
no reason for USB vs LSB on any band anymore. It's just convention from 
the original experimental designs. 20m and above is USB, below 20m it's 
LSB. You'll occasionally hear some DX on 20m on LSB to keep the crowd 
away.

I'd be interested in anyone's attempts at shifting the K1 to USB CW.

73, Steve WB6RSE